North side care center endorsed despite space concerns

The Common Council's zoning committee has approved a $14.6 million development that would blend day care and medical programs for children, frail elderly and people with disabilities on Milwaukee's north side, overruling concerns about whether the nonprofit project would use too much land.

St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, which operates such a program at 2801 E. Morgan Ave., St. Francis, wants to add a second center by building a 78,500-square-foot facility on 7.4 acres bordered by W. North, W. Meinecke and W. Medford avenues and N. 24th and N. 25th streets.

St. Ann would buy the city-owned site for $1 and would be required to relocate underground sewer tunnels at its own expense.That land, which has been vacant for decades, is part of a strip cleared for the canceled Park West Freeway project.

The two-story building would provide child care for about 220 children, after-school care for 40 children, adult day care for 70 people, dementia care for 30 people, medical and dental clinics and other services. The center would have 150 full-time and 25 part-time employees.

There's a strong demand on Milwaukee's north side for St. Ann's services, center officials said. St. Ann is raising funds for the project, and a construction start date hasn't yet been determined.

Ald. Bob Bauman was the only committee member who voted Wednesday against selling the land and rezoning the site -- which both require full council approval. Bauman said the proposed facility is "laudable" but doesn't need such a large amount of acreage.

Aside from the building, the development site would include a parking lot, playground, green space, an outdoor band shell and room for a future center expansion, said Sister Edna Lonergan, St. Ann president and founder.

Ald. Willie Hines, whose district includes the site, said for-profit developments proposed for the site have all fallen through over the years. Hines, who's council president, said those developers all sought city financing help.

St. Ann, he said, hasn't "asked us for one dime."

The city and St. Ann will negotiate an agreement for the center to pay for municipal services.